Professional Health Fields
There are many professions to explore when considering a career in the health professions. The links below are not an exhaustive list of all health profession areas however they encompass specific areas to which UIC has pre-professional advising tracks. The information below also provides students with specific letter of recommendation instructions dependent upon the program.
Students desiring more information on the careers listed below and those not listed are encouraged to research Explore Health Careers.
- American Dental Education Association
- Central Application Service (AADSAS) opens June 4, 2012.
- UIC Pre-Dental Club
- Central Application Service (TMDSAS) for dental schools in Texas opens May 1, 2012.
- UIC will forward letter packet to AADSAS/TMDSAS when file is complete. Reference Letter of Recommendation information for specific instructions regarding LAS forwarding procedures.
- American Association of Medical Colleges
- Central Application Service (AMCAS) opens in early May 2012 and students may begin submission starting in the beginning of June 2012.
- Central Application Service (TMDSAS) for some medical schools in Texas opens May 1, 2012.
- UIC Pre-Med Club
- UIC will forward letter packet to AMCAS/TMDSAS when file is complete. Reference specific handouts regarding LAS letter of recommendation processing procedures.
- Non-participating schools, a list can be found at http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/faq/amcasletters.htm
- All Illinois schools are participating.
- American Association of College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Central Application Service (AACOMAS) opens in May 2012.
- UIC Pre-Med Club
- UIC will forward a letter packet to Virtual Evals when file is complete, reference the medical LOR handout for specific instructions regarding LAS forwarding procedures.
- American Nursing Association
- Some nursing programs throughout the United States use a Central Application Service (NursingCAS)
- Most schools in Illinois do not participate at this time
- List of Illinois Nursing Programs
- In most cases students take pre-requisite courses then apply to nursing programs for a bachelors degree
- Students are responsible for sending letters (if required) to individual schools that do not participate in NursingCAS
- UIC Nursing requires two electronic letters (One from professor and the other from a work supervisor/volunteer coordinator, etc.)
- Academic of Nutrition and Dietetics
- Students are responsible for sending letters (if required) to individual schools
- UIC's Coordinated program requires three letters visit the application site for additional information
- American Occupational Therapy Association
- Central Application Service (OTCAS) opens in July 2012.
- UIC Pre-OT Club
- Students may submit up to three letters of reference thru the OTCAS system.
- Highly encouraged to have evaluator submit an electronic reference
- Student designates evaluator in application, e-mail is sent to individual directing to a secure site to complete evaluation.
- Paper letters are accepted; student must print the Reference Form (specific to each evaluator) and have evaluator mail to OTCAS.
- Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
- Central Application Service (OptomCAS) opens in July 2012.
- UIC Pre-Optometry Club
- Students must use the Electronic Letter Service provided through OptomCAS.
- Specific Instructions for OptomCAS will be available when the application opens. The system will likely be similar to:
- Student responsibility to list evaluators in application or have evaluator send letters to OptomCAS.
- Highly encouraged to have evaluator submit an electronic reference
- Student designates evaluator in application, e-mail is sent to individual directing to a secure site to complete evaluation.
- Paper letters are accepted; student must print the Reference Form (specific to each evaluator) and have evaluator mail to OptomCAS.
- Highly encouraged to have evaluator submit an electronic reference
- American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
- Central Application Service (AACPMAS) opens in August 2012.
- UIC Pre-Podiatry Club
- Students are responsible for sending letters (if required) to individual schools or can contact LAS Pre-Health advising at prehealth@las.uic.edu regarding sending letters through Virtual Evals to podiatry schools. Not all Podiatry schools use Virtual Evals. Students must follow all instructions and open a veCollect account to use the LAS Letter Forwarding service.
- American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
- Central Application Service (PharmCAS) opens in June 2012.
- UIC Pre-Pharmacy Club
- Most schools prefer letters (max 4) go to PharmCAS if they are required, a few schools letters will be sent directly to individual schools
- Illinois Schools
- All Illinois schools (in PharmCAS) letters are sent thru the application service
- Southern Illinois is not part of PharmCAS.
- Chicago State "requires" a PH Advisor letter; you should replace this with a second professor letter, preferably science. They are aware UIC Pre-Health advising does not write letters for students.
- Student responsibility to request evaluators send letters (4 max) to PharmCAS.
- Highly encouraged to have evaluator submit an electronic reference
- Student designates evaluator in application, e-mail is sent to individual directing to a secure site to complete evaluation.
- Highly encouraged to have evaluator submit an electronic reference
- Paper letters are accepted; student must print the Reference Form (specific to each evaluator) and have evaluator mail to PharmCAS.
- American Physical Therapy Association
- Central Application Service (PTCAS) opens in July 2012.
- UIC Pre-Physical Therapy Club
- Student responsibility to request evaluators send letters (4 max) to PTCAS.
- Highly encouraged to have evaluator submit an electronic reference
- Student designates evaluator in application, e-mail is sent to individual directing to a secure site to complete evaluation.
- Paper letters are accepted, student must print the Reference Form (specific to each evaluator) and have evaluator mail to PTCAS
- Physician Assistant EducationAssociation
- Central Application Service (CASPA) opens in April 2012.
- Student responsibility to request evaluators send letters (3 max) to CASPA.
- Highly encouraged to have evaluator submit an electronic reference
- Student designates evaluator in application, e-mail is sent to individual directing to a secure site to complete evaluation.
- Paper letters are accepted; student must print the Reference Form (specific to each evaluator) and have evaluator mail to CASPA.
- American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges
- Central Application Service (VMCAS).
- Central Application Service (TMDSAS) for one veterinary medical school in Texas opens May 1, 2012.
- UIC Pre-Vet Association
- Student responsibility to request evaluators send letters (3 min, 5 max) to VMCAS/TMDSAS.
- Evaluations must be submitted electronically.
- Student designates evaluator in application, e-mail is sent to individual directing to a secure site to complete evaluation.